Charting the Way Forward

Don’t miss our last episode before the election, as the in-house team discusses what we’re watching just a few days away from November 3. Kerry is joined this week by our in-house regulars, Co-Founders Tory and Jen join Political Director Joe Hamill, and Media Consultant Dan Ancona, to weigh in on the closing arguments and viral moments, as well as what the early data is telling us so far. 

This week on Charting The Way Forward: The one and only Jessica Byrd! A nationally recognized political strategist, Byrd has spent the last 18 years intentionally focused on building multiracial democracy and the last 6 years developing a visionary, relational approach to leadership development called Black Camp. She joined us to discuss how she is bringing that vision into reality, and the continued vision Democrats will need to build their midterm momentum into a broad, durable coalition positioned to win the White House in 2028.

Today we continue our 2-year-anniversary Closing Argument series with Ryan O'Donnell, Executive Director of Data For Progress, to survey the greater political landscape with just over 2 weeks left until Election Day! Ryan is a master of electoral polling methodology—something sorely needed in a Democratic campaign ecosystem that often leaves candidates looking wishy-washy instead of helping them stick to their values. All this and more on this week's episode of Charting The Way Forward!

Everyone’s favorite Latino expert Chuck Rocha has some news: the old adage that ‘Latinos are not a monolith’ might actually be a lot less true this cycle! Trump has uniformly ticked off Latinos across the country, and Republicans will bear the brunt of that ire, says Chuck. The real question now is whether Democrats can figure out how to keep Latinos in their corner. Join us for the second installment of our Closing Argument series this month, celebrating two years of Charting The Way Forward!

Today we're dropping the first episode of our "Closing Argument" series celebrating TWO YEARS of Charting The Way Forward. First up: Indivisible's Leah Greenberg on The Grassroots and the largest early vote mobilization in history! Plus—her closing arguments are 🔥🔥. Jenifer Fernandez Ancona and Dan Ancona join host Kerry Eleveld for this truly inspiring conversation. We'll be dropping special episodes every Thursday this month, so stay tuned!

As Ian Bassin, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Protect Democracy, said on this week's episode, few people would disagree that we're in a crisis of democracy — but we're also in a crisis of spirit. And yet, it may be the crisis that precedes the opportunity. Because if we can, in fact, Protect our Democracy, we can start implementing real reforms to make sure our country rewards regular people who have good values, not just people who have good financial positions. We have a big fight ahead—but in the past, it has been moments of great conflict that have produced the most positive change. 

Head to protectdemocracy.org to check out more of Ian's work, including a list of easy, important actions you can take to help ensure our elections are free and fair.

This week, the Way team is in the weeds preparing for the final election day push—so we're revisiting a show from a couple months back with Luke Martin, diving into tough terrain for Dems with innovative battleground polling. Last week, we looked at the Part 2 of this research with Celinda Lake (give it a listen if you haven't already!), so here is a look back at the foundation on which we've built the ad work we're doing today.

Way to Win worked with Impact Research and Lake Research to zero in on messages that move gettable voters in conservative South and Southwest battleground states and districts. Trump’s catastrophic failure on the economy has unlocked the door for Dems; with focus and effort, they may be able to open it. Rising star pollster Luke Martin and Consultant of Destiny™️ Dan Ancona dig in with host Kerry Eleveld.

This week, we are joined by pollster extraordinaire, friend of the pod, and President and Founder of Lake Research Partners, Celinda Lake, to discuss the rapidly shifting electorate in the South and Southwest, and just how effective our most recent message testing has proven to be at shifting voter sentiment. With less than 8 weeks left until the Midterm elections, the decisions we make now could make or break some of the most critical races of the cycle. Listen in as we drill down on the messages that will position Democrats to maximize their gains this November.

Black voters are poised to make the difference this cycle between Democrats regaining control of the Senate and falling just short. From the Sunbelt states of Texas, Georgia, and Mississippi all the way north to Michigan, Democrats' path to the majority runs through Black voter engagement and persuasion. Terrance Woodbury, founding partner and CEO of HIT Strategies, joins us to share his insights about "the Trump of it all," tying Paxton to pedophiles, and other closing arguments Democrats should be making to persuade Black voters to go to the polls.

Could the Mississippi Senate race also possibly, somehow, be in play this cycle? According to new polling, ABSOLUTELY. Mississippi NAACP Executive Director Charles Taylor, the ultimate organizer-meets-consulant, joins us to share deep insights from the front lines of a state that should not be written off either this cycle or in cycles to come. Way to Win President Tory Gavito, Strategic Advisor Joe Hamill also join host Kerry Eleveld.